Cryogenic switches set new benchmark for RF switches within quantum computing systems

Menlo Microsystems, Inc. has launched the MM4250 switch. This product is a cryogenic SP6T switch with a near-zero thermal footprint used for the switching and control of high-speed and RF signals with the dilution fridge of a quantum computer. By delivering reliable, high-performance ohmic contact switching in cryogenic environments with a near-zero thermal signature, the switch addresses a critical bottleneck in superconducting qubit testing, quantum processor calibration, and high-precision cryogenic measurements.

This commercial breakthrough reinforces the company's leadership in delivering high-performance and highly efficient switching solutions and underscores its position to provide optimal switching solutions to the rapidly growing quantum technology market. The switch has demonstrated exceptional capability in both quantum computing and cryogenic research, streamlining VNA calibration and measurement-uncertainty evaluation at cryogenic temperatures with a near-zero thermal signature that does not alter the temperature with a dilution fridge.

Superconducting circuits and qubits require extremely low temperatures to maintain coherence and minimise noise. In space and astrophysics, VNA calibration at cryogenic conditions is essential for testing sensitive radio-frequency components such as low-noise amplifiers and detectors used in satellites and telescopes. Similarly, research in materials science and fundamental physics depends on precise microwave measurements at cryogenic temperatures to investigate novel materials and superconductors.

Traditional cryogenic switches can dissipate up to 2W of waste heat per activation, generating thermal loads that can raise the dilution fridge temperature by approximately 20mK. This temperature rise causes significant delays of up to several hours while systems cool back to operating temperature. By contrast, the switch's electrostatic actuation only consumes energy in the hundreds of nanoamps per switching operation, generating no appreciable waste heat and enabling a continuous test and calibration operation while at cryogenic temperatures.

"This once-in-a-generation technological advance equips the quantum-computing sector with a robust toolkit tailored to the demands of cryogenic environments," said Russ Garcia, CEO of Menlo Micro. "It demonstrates Menlo Micro's leadership in delivering high-performance solutions for next-generation quantum technologies."

The MM4250 toolkit enables traceable, turnkey RF scattering-parameter, large-signal, and noise-parameter measurements directly within research laboratories. This allows comprehensive characterisation of multiport RF components; interconnects spanning room to cryogenic temperatures; modulated signals; non-linear devices; and both cryogenic semiconductors and superconducting amplifiers.

Another major advantage of the switch is its integrated calibration standards, which eliminate the need for the typically used external calibration components and free up more channels for device testing. In a typical two-port VNA measurement setup, this efficiency shift means that it can test more than twice as many devices at a time than alternative six-channel devices. Given that each cooldown and warm-up cycle can be multiple hours, the MM4250 delivers substantial time and energy savings while accelerating calibration and characterisation of quantum processors and other cryogenic components.

"The MM4250 eliminates one of the biggest bottlenecks in quantum development—slow, resource-intensive calibration cycles," said Garcia. "By saving engineers and researchers a significant number of hours per cooldown, it dramatically accelerates device characterisation and helps customers and partners bring their products to market faster. Its unprecedented scalability supports future high-density quantum systems, enabling a seamless path from lab research to commercial deployment. The MM4250 is a game-changer for customers pushing the boundaries of quantum technology, and its impact on the quantum-architecture community will be profound."